PNB scam fallout: Assocham survey shows up to 15% drop in diamond demand

The Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud involving diamantaire Nirav Modi seems to have shaken the confidence of diamond jewellery buyers, especially from the unorganised jewellers, over concerns on the purity of the precious jewellery, resulting in a drop in business, according to a survey released on Friday.

The survey conducted by industry chamber Assocham said while the well-known branded jewellery makers issue certificates of purity, the bulk of the trade is still concentrated in the unorganised market, based on mutual faith between consumers and jewellers.

The demand for diamond jewellery seems to have decreased by 10-15 percent within two months, Assocham said.

The survey covered 350 jewellery-makers based in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Dehradun. Assocham said it had also interacted with about 500 working and non-working women in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai to gauge their shopping habits.

The survey done in major cities, also found that 65 per cent of the jewellers in the unorganised market, (barring the big time corporates and big brand companies) are shifting to traditional pure play gold and silver ornaments over diamond jewellery as consumers face a crisis of confidence in the purity of the precious stone.